What’s Your Relationship with Procrastination?

Thinkers Vs Doers

Some people are natural-born thinkers, and some people are naturally doers. Some do a lot of thinking, but never get anything done. While others, like me, bounce back and forth between the two.

When we’re in action mode, we’re organized and know exactly what we need to do to go from one project to the next, with little to no effort. When we’re not, we find ourselves disorganized, jumping between projects that we never complete, or even start.

How a Person of Action Feels

When we’re pinging off the items on our to-do list, we’re on top of the world. We’re full of energy, and can’t wait to move on to our next project. When the day’s over, we’re still energized, looking for something else to work on.

How an All Talk and No Action Person Feels

But, when we’re not in action mode, we’re tired, listless and do the opposite of action mode – we start to procrastinate.

When we get into procrastination mode, we tend to avoid the most important project(s) we have to do, and continuously let ourselves get sidetracked with menial, unimportant projects.

At the end of the day we will feel like we’ve run a marathon, but know we didn't take action. So basically, we feel like crap. Both physically and mentally.

If you’re one of these people who never procrastinates, you won’t be able to relate to what follows. But for those of you who often fall into procrastination, or even procrastinate occasionally, the following tips can help you snap out of it.

How I Became a Person of Action

Below are the methods I used to stop bouncing between procrastination mode, and action mode. To become a person of action, who stops procrastination before it starts. This article covers the following:

Causes and Effects of Procrastination

Causes and Effects of Taking Action

10 Steps to Overcome Procrastination and Become a Person of Action

Are you Tormented by Procrastination?

Procrastination turns into a bad habit, if we let it.

It is a time killer that begins as mere moments, but then carries on into hours, days, and months. Often, we’re totally unaware that we’re even procrastinating.

Until one day it hits us, but by then it’s too late. The time is gone, and we can never get it back.

This is what I call wasting your life. All the time spent procrastinating is time completely wasted.

Your Life Has to Mean Something

As humans, we have a strong desire to make an impression on our world. We want our days to be memorable, we want to accomplish as much as we can, we want to help others, and we want to make a positive impression in the lives of our families.

We can’t do this when we’re in procrastination mode. To reach these goals, we have to be productive, pure and simple.

Don't Wait for a Loss

To change your mindset, quit procrastinating and become a person of action! | Source

Mindset: Procrastination Vs Productivity

Since October 21, 2012, changing my mindset has become the main focus in my life. First, personally, then professionally.

On that horrible day, my 16-month old grandson, Chase, passed away suddenly - two days before his mom was bringing him to visit me.

I’m sure you can understand how I went from utter excitement to total despair within those few days. To get out of it, I had to change my mindset.

And although there are thousands of life changing thoughts and emotions that go with the sudden loss of a small child, giving my life meaning was one of them.

Procrastination’s Hidden Disguises: What is Procrastination

It’s interesting to note that according to the Oxford Dictionary, procrastination is an action of delaying or postponing something. I feel that technically since it’s something we do to avoid taking action, procrastination is actually an inaction. As opposed to action, which means a thing done.

Whether procrastination is an action, or an inaction, it disguises itself into other forms.

Rationalization

There’s always a good reason - I didn’t start this project because I didn't have/or couldn't get, all the parts I needed, or it was too hot outside to start it.

I couldn't do this, because I haven’t done that yet, or I couldn't do that for this reason…The list goes on...

But rationalization is really just a defense mechanism we use to justify something to avoid the truth.

Habit

Eventually, procrastination becomes a habit, and if you don’t replace it with a new productive habit, it will never leave your side. You’ll always find ways to put off tasks because other things will come up.

Often they are just excuses we tell ourselves we need to do, such as going on Facebook, checking emails, surfing the net, or the TV, because we have to make sure we don’t miss anything important or interesting. Or we have to get groceries, do laundry, and clean the house, because if we don’t, our world will fall apart.

The Difference Between Real Reasons and an Excuses

I’ve found that I need to recognize a legitimate reason from an excuse to delay a project. And what I generally find is that it is an excuse because I find the project distasteful, and I don’t want to face it, or it’s too overwhelming because it’s really big.

To get of procrastination mode I ask myself, “Does this project need to be done?”

If the answer is YES, then I:

Complete the project, using the tips in this article.

Assess what I’ve done and see why the project was worth my time and energy.

Give myself a reward for beating procrastination and taking action. No matter how small the action was.

Very rarely does it turn out that I was procrastinating for a good reason - it's usually always an avoidance mechanism.

If Your Answer is Yes the Project Needs to be Done

Other Causes of Procrastination

Causes procrastination because you don’t know how to start a project, or what to do next. When we don’t have a beginning or an end, we can’t fill in the blanks in-between.

Disorganization

Disorganization is a major cause of procrastination, because you don’t have a plan mapped out that will take you from the beginning of a project to the end. Even if you have direction, you need it organized to start your journey.

The Completed Project is the Most Important Part

“All that matters is the ending, its the most important part of the story, and this one is very good. This one is perfect.”

Johnny Depp quote from the movie The Secret Window.

End of a Story and the Completion of a Project

A completed project is the best part of productivity, just as the ending of a story, is always the most important part to a body of work.

Treat thoughts of your completed project as you would the perfect ending of a book, or short story you've read.

Organization - One Item To-do List

A to-do list with the most urgent or important project at the top can help you overcome your lack of direction, and disorganization. Don't put anything else on it so you can stay focused.

We make huge strides when we take small steps.

If it’s a huge project, break it down into smaller projects on your to-do list. This way it isn't so daunting and you’ll be able to picture the completed project in your mind.

Work Backwards Starting at Your Goal

Thinking and Problem Solving: Working backward from a goal to means of achieving it. | Source

Reverse Brainstorming

In an article on the Mind Tools website, they talk about revers brainstorming to solve problems:

"Reverse brainstorming helps you solve problems by combining brainstorming and reversal techniques. By combining these, you can extend your use of brainstorming to draw out even more creative ideas."

In the article, they explain how to use this tool to solve problems by following these 5 steps:

Clearly identify the problem or challenge, and write it down.

Reverse the problem or challenge by asking, "How could I possibly cause the problem?" or "How could I possibly achieve the opposite effect?"

Brainstorm the reverse problem to generate reverse solution ideas. Allow the brainstorm ideas to flow freely. Do not reject anything at this stage.

Once you have brainstormed all the ideas to solve the reverse problem, now reverse these into solution ideas for the original problem or challenge.

Evaluate these solution ideas. Can you see a potential solution? Can you see attributes of a potential solution?

Think Backwards - Organization and Problems Solving

Organization - Think Backwards

One of the most memorable lawyers I worked for used to think backwards to organize solve problems. I’ve also used this organization method with teaching difficult concepts, and gathering and structuring information for an outline:

What is the project you want to complete, what does it look like?

What has to happen just before it is completed?

What has to happen before this step can happen?

Continue thinking backwards until you get to the starting point of your project.

This way of organizing your project may seem weird at first. But it can really help you understand your project inside and out. Thus giving you direction.

Problem Solving

Thinking backwards can also be used to solve big problems or help with small decisions such as what dress to wear to your Christmas party.

Below in Seth Godin's video he explains how to think backwards to be more successful in business - if you own a business, or work for someone else.

Just Make a Decision – Indecision Kills Action

Decide what you need to do, then do it. Even if you make the wrong decision, at least you don’t procrastinate, and you’re taking action. When we’re taking action procrastination doesn’t exist.

As well, when you just make the decision and get going in the direction you need to take, the process gets clearer. You’ll get clarification, and it will become easier to decipher what path you have to take.

While you’re making your decision, write-up a simple list of the pros and cons of the outcome.

I’m an introvert and even deciding what to eat can take me a while. I like to think about it, study the ingredients, weigh the pros and cons of my choices, etc. So mastering decision-making was a struggle at first.

In fact, I won’t lie, it was actually mind numbingly hard, and extremely frustrating. But I found that the more I did it, the easier it got.

And soon, making quick decisions became my new habit.

Wrong Decision?

Even when I make the wrong decision, rarely does it turn out to be a waste of time, or a lost cause. When I realize I’ve made a wrong decision, the right one ends up staring me in the face.

After I have my Aha moment, I get started on completing the project, the right way. It usually only takes a bit of tweaking, but sometimes it means taking an entirely different approach.

Either way it’s worth it, because I learn something about myself, my process, or what I was trying to accomplish.

Remember: Taking action is never a waste of time!

Make a Project Exciting – Mix it up

I’m launching a blog soon called Pre-Blogging “The Get Your Poop in a Group Project,” so I’ve had a ton of writing to do. I’m going to use what I did to take action on this huge writing project.

After I completed the brainstorming, organizing, structuring and outlining my blog, I knew exactly what I had to do to complete it. I had my content, product funnel, and marketing, etc. all written out in steps. And it was time to start writing.

When I started my project, I worked through my outline from the beginning and was working my way to the end. This got boring, and it felt like I was doing a homework assignment. I felt my enthusiasm waning, so I had to think of something to make it more exciting.

Put Writing Projects in a Sandwich Bag

I put the titles of all the content I had to write on a piece of paper, and cut them into pieces and crumpled them up. Then I put them in a sandwich bag.

Every day when I work on my blog, I put my hand in the bag and pull out the mystery content I’m going to write.

Not only is it exciting to me to see what I’m going to write about because it’s a mystery, I’m excited to write each piece.

How to Fail

When you procrastinate and get nothing done, you automatically fail! | Source

Fear of Failure: Procrastination is Failure

Fear of failure is another huge cause of procrastination. But I’ve learned that when I procrastinate, I fail. The End.

Procrastination = Automatic Fail

It’s that simple. When you continually put off your project you don’t get anything done, except for spending hours, days and weeks putting mental energy and thought into avoiding it, and in the end have nothing to show for it.

How to Become a Person of Action – 10 Steps

Procrastination is out of the Picture, and Doesn’t Exist.

Mindset: Get it in your head that you want to become a person of action, because you don’t want to waste your life away. You want your life to mean something so you have to be more productive, and you can’t be productive if you’re a slave to procrastination.

Hidden Disguises: Don’t rationalize why you can’t start or complete your project, and don’t fall into the habit of putting it off.

Ask Yourself: Does the project need to be completed? If your answer is yes, focus on the how and why. Think of the outcome of the project and the benefits it will bring once it’s complete.

Direction and Organization: Focus on the end of your project, like it’s a story.

To-do List: For big projects, only put your big project on your to-do list. Break it down into categories, if necessary. But don’t have anything else on your list.

Think Backwards: Start with the end, and work your thoughts backwards until you get to the first step.

Make a Decision: Decide what you’re going to do and stick with it – take action. If it turns out to be the wrong decision, tweak your process or change your approach. Be sure to learn from your decision-making process. Create your outline of steps you have to take.

Steps: Break your project down into steps. Create an outline as your guide.

Make it Interesting: Challenge yourself to something, or make a bet with yourself. Give yourself a reward when you complete a step. If you can, break it down into steps and put them all in a bag like I did. Pick one out when you’re going to work on your project.

Comments 14 comments

Excellent and useful Hub. I procrastinate in writing because I dread looking for interesting picture and videos that relate to the topic I am writing about..... Not a very good excuse, is it?

My heart goes out to you for your loss, but, I rejoice with you for your decision to change your life! God Bless you

KoraleeP 2 years ago from Vernon British Columbia Canada Author

Thank you Leslie, for everything you said. I know exactly what you mean about finding content to add to your article, I've been there before. But like everything else we dread, putting in the effort in is worth it in the end...But as far as excuses go, we shouldn't let the get in our way of publishing them.

CrisSp 2 years ago from Sky Is The Limit Adventure

Like you, I am torn in between delaying it and taking action at times. So, I put deadline for myself and more often I am good in following it except when some unavoidable stuff come up. Then, I rush to complete whatever project I am doing and that was put on hold.

The only tip I could add based on my habit is to just do it. You'll be pleased you did! :)

This is a great kicker hub. Thank you.

KoraleeP 2 years ago from Vernon British Columbia Canada Author

I'm glad you liked the hub.

Thank you so much for your tip to give yourself a deadline. That's a brilliant idea.

manatita44 2 years ago from london

Cool Hub, Koralee.

Dear God, may I not procrastinate too often, if ... May I do the things that make me worthy in Thy sight. Wonderful and useful Hub.

KoraleeP 2 years ago from Vernon British Columbia Canada Author

Thank you so much manatita44, I'm glad to hear you found it useful. Procrastination is such pain :)

B. Leekley 2 years ago from Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA

I'm hopeful I can get free of the procrastination habit using your tips.

KoraleeP 2 years ago from Vernon British Columbia Canada Author

Hi B. Leekley. I hope you do too. It took me awhile, but I would say it is basically all about forming new habits, productive habbits.

FlourishAnyway 2 years ago from USA

I'm so sorry about your loss. You provide some excellent strategies here on becoming more action-oriented. Not making a decision is actually a decision.

KoraleeP 2 years ago from Vernon British Columbia Canada Author

Thank you very much FlourishAnyway. That's a really great point you make that making a decision is actually a decision...Thank you for that.

Julie K Henderson 20 months ago

I am sorry about your loss. I think this article is helpful and well-delivered. I've also found that usually my reasons to delay a project are merely rationalizations in disguise. Thank you for sharing. Voted up.

KoraleeP 20 months ago from Vernon British Columbia Canada Author

Thank you very much Julie, and yes that seems to be a big reason.

ValKaras 6 months ago from Canada

Koralee - First of all, it's a great hub you wrote, I like it a lot. Then, let me share how I just can't stand the thought of something waiting for my "mercy" to be done - I need that feeling of completion, of putting things behind and focusing on something new without "owing" something to my past.

KoraleeP 6 months ago from Vernon British Columbia Canada Author

Thank you ValKaras - yes closure and moving on is always a good thing :)